By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- Willamette University won two of three doubles matches, and rolled through the six singles matches without a loss, to claim an 8-1 victory over Occidental College in women's tennis on Saturday, March 26. The match was held at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center on the Occidental Campus.

The Bearcats, ranked #13 in the West Region of NCAA Division II, upped their record to 9-4 on the season, while Occidental fell to 3-10.

Willamette won #1 and #2 doubles. At #1 doubles, Natalia Agarycheva (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) and Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) defeated Krishnaveni Subbiah and Rachel Washtien, 8-3.

Winning for the Bearcats at #2 doubles were Sabrina Gutierrez (Fr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Fabi Dieguez (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.). They held off Jessica Go and Katrina Gould of Occidental, 8-4.

Agarycheva and Palmer earned victories in the top singles matches. Agarycheva rolled past Subbiah, 6-1, 6-0, at #1 singles. Palmer downed Go, 6-1, 6-3, in the #2 singles match.

The only win for the Tigers was at #3 doubles, where Julie Housman and Isabelle Ying defeated Emily Bee (Jr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Joanna Sterngold (Fr., Woodland Hills, CA/San Pasqual HS). Housman and Ying won 8-5.

Willamette's next match in set for Saturday, April 2 at the University of Puget Sound. Game time in Tacoma, Wash., is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).